Seesaw.



W. B. STATON SEES/\W.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. I6. 1918.

Patented Nov. 12, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Elm/M190 2,

W. B. STAYGN.

SEESAW.

APPIJCATIOH FILED ma. I6. i918,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2..

Patentfi Nov. 12, 1918.

UNITED TATE PATENT @FFICE.

WESLEY B. STA'I'ON, OF GRAY, SASKATCHEWAN, CANADA.

SEESAW.

Application filed January 16, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WEsLnY B. STAToN, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Gray, in the Province of Saskatchewan, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Seesaws, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to amusement devices for children and more particularly to an improvement in seesaws.

It is one aim of the present invention to provide an amusement device of the type above mentioned so constructed that when the structure is not in use it may be readily reduced to a knockdownform so as tooccupy but little space and yet may be quickly set up and when set up will be substantial.

The rocking member of the device embodying the present invention is formed in foldably connected sections, and it is ,a further aim of the invention to provide means for securely holding the sections in alinement when the device is in use and in such a manner as to preclude any possibility of breaking down of the connection between the sections or relative displacement of the sections.

In the accompanyingdrawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional View therethrough substantially in a line with the pivots for the rocking member;

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view illustrating the means provided for connecting the side bars of the rocking member of the device;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation ofthe device in knock-down form;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view in detail of one end of one of the braces provided between the standards of the device.

Briefly stated, the device embodying the invention includes a supporting standard structure and a rocking member mounted thereon. The supporting structure comprises two members of counterpart construction, indicated in general by the numeral 1, and each of these members comprises an upright 2 bolted or otherwise secured as at 3 at its lower end to the inner side of a base 4:. These parts are preferably of wood and of the shape shown in the drawings, although they may be made in other shapes if desired and they are, of course, sufficiently heavy or Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 12, 1918.

Serial No. 212,007.

stout to support the weight which is to be imposed upon them. In order to relatively brace the standard members 1, there are provided brace rods 5 each having a downturned end 6 which is flattened as most clearly shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, and secured to the inner faces of the uprights 2 are socket members 7 each in the nature of a plate having its ends secured to the said in ner face of the respective upright 2 and having its intermediate portion struck outwardly so as to provide therebetween and the said face of the respective upright, a flat walled socket to receive the flattened end 6 of one of the brace bars 5. By reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings it will be ob- 7 served that the 'sockets"? are located near the upper and lower ends of the uprights 2 and that, consequently,the brace bars or rods 5 are located one above another and extend between the said uprights to properly space and brace the same. Inasmuch asthe ends of the rods 5are flattenedas at 6, and fit within the flat walled sockets 7, the rods prevent relative twisting or turning of the supporting members so that, therefore, these members are held parallel to each other as well asbeing relatively braced against separation or tilting. In order to'receive'1trun nions carried by the opposite sides of the rocking member of the device, the upper end of each upright 2 is formed with a bearing notch or seat 8.

The rocking member of the device is indicated in general by the numeral 9 and the same comprises two sections,one indicated generally by the numeral 10 and the other by the numeral 11. The section 10 comprises spaced parallel side bars 12 connected at their outer ends and relatively braced by means of a seat board 18 having hand grips 14 at its ends. Extending between and rela tively bracing the inner ends of the side bars 12 of the section 10 is a cross-bar 15 formed at its ends with trunnions 16 whichseat within the bearing notches or seats 8in the manner heretofore des"ribed. The section 11 of the rockingmember includes spaced parallel side bars 17 corresponding to the bars 12 and likewise connectedand braced at their outer ends by a seat board 18 having hand grips 19. In order to provide a connection between the sections 10 and 11 providing for relative folding of said sections one upon another, hinges 20 are employed and these hinges have strap leaves 21 bolted or otherwise secured to the uppersides of the side bars 12 of the section 10 and other strap leaves 22 similarly secured to the upper sides of the bars 17 of the section 11. By reference to Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings it will be observed that in the set up condition of the devie, the side bars of the two sections are in alinement and the inner ends of the side bars 17 abut against the outer face of the cross-bar 15 so that when the sections have been swung apart on their hinges to bring them into alinement with each other, they will be firmly held against further relative swinging movement in such direction. In order to further relatively brace the sections of the rocking member and also to prevent relative swinging move ment of the sections in the direction in which they are to be swung upon their hinges to collapse the said rocking member, a bar 23 is secured to the under side of each of the side bars 12 at the inner end thereof and these bars 23 project at their ends beyond the cross-bar 15 so as to extend beneath the inner ends of the bars 17 of the se tion 11 when the rocking member is in set up condition. In this manner the bars 17 are afforded additional support against downward collapse or swinging movement with relation to the bars 12 of the section 10, and in order to brace the bars 17 against lateral displacement with relation to the bars 12, each of the bracing bars 23 at its pro jecting outer end is formed at its lateral edges with spaced upstanding lugs 24:: which engage the opposite side faces of the respective bars 17, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. of the drawings. A turnbutton 25 is swiveled upon the under side of each bar 17 and is adapted to be turned to'position engaging beneath the projecting end of the respective brace bar 23 when the device is set up so as to prevent relative swinging movement of the sections upon their hinges.

From the foregoing des"ription of the in- I vention it will be understood that the structure may be relativelv and qui'lrly set up and the parts thereof assembled, and that when set up it will be substantial and not liable to ollapse or yield in any direction. It will further be understood that the rocking member may be readily collapsed by turning the buttons 25 to a transverse position and out of engagement with theprojecting ends of. the bars 23, whereupon the sections 10 and 11 of the said member may be swung together upon their hinges 20 to assume the collapsed condition shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. It will further be apparent that by disengaging the ends of the brace bars 5 from the sockets 7,.these bars will become disconnected from the support ng s andards and the standards may then be disposed one upon another or otherwise conveniently packed with the collapsed rocking member so that when not in use the stru ture will 00' upy but little space.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a device of the class described, a supporting structure including spaced memhers having trunnion bearings, a rocking member comprising hingedly connected sections, a cross-bar carried by one of the sec tions and constituting an abutment for the inner end of the other section whereby to hold the sections in alinement, and trunnions at the ends of the cross-bar seating in the said trunnion bearings.

2. In a device of the class described, a supporting structure including spaced members having trunnion bearings, a rocking member comprising hingedly connected sections, a. cross-bar carried by one of the sections and constituting an abutment for the inner end of the other section whereby to hold the sections in alinement. trunnions at theends of the cross-bar seating in the said trunnion bearings. and coacting means upon the said sections for holding the same against rela-' tive folding movement. I V

3. In a device of the class described, a'supporting structure including spaced members having trunnion bearings. a-rocking member comprising hingedly connected sections. a cross-bar carried by one of the sections and constituting an abutment for the inner end of the other section whereby to hold the sections in alinement, trunnions at the ends of the cross-bar seating in the said trunnion bearings. a bracing member secured to the under side of one of the sections and having a bracing portion extending beneath the inner end of the other section. and means carried bv the last-mentioned section movable to position to en a e beneath the bracing portion of the said member whereby to restrain the sections against folding movement.

4. In a device of the class described, a supporting structure including spaced members having trunnion bearings. a rocking member compris ng h rgedlv conn cted sections. a cross-bar carried bv one of the sections and constituting an abutment for the i ner end of the other section wherebv to hold the sectiors in a me t. tr nn ops at the ends of the cross-bar seat ng n the sa d trunnion bearings. a bracing member secured to the under side of one of the sections and having a bracing portion extending beneaththeinner end of the other section. means carried bv the last-mentioned section movable to position to engage beneath the bracing port on of the said me ber whereby to restrain the sections against folding movement. and means upon the said bracing portion of the displacement of the said sections.

1284,80? &

5. In a device of the class described, supporting members each comprising a base and an upright, each of the uprights having a flat Walled socket thereon, a brace bar eX- tending between the said uprights and having flattened ends engaging in said sockets whereby to relatively brace the supporting members against lateral displacement and against relative turning movement, and a rocking member supported upon the sup- 10 porting members for rocking movement.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WESLEY B. STATON. [L. 8.]

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

